Gerhard III of Holstein-Rendsburg

Gerhard III, Count of Holstein-Rendsburg (1292-1 April 1340) was Count of Schauenberg and Holstein-Rendsburg from 1304 to 1340, succeeding Henry I of Holstein-Rendsburg and preceding Henry II of Holstein-Rendsburg.

Biography
Gerhard was born in 1292, the son of Henry I of Holstein-Rendsburg and Heilwig of Bronckhorst. He inherited Holstein as a boy, and he conquered other parts of Holstein to become a powerful prince of the Holy Roman Empire. Gerhard was once a mercenary leader, and he allied with his cousin John III of Holstein-Ploen. In 1326, he assisted Danish rebels with overthrowing King Christopher II of Denmark, and he placed his nephew on the throne as Valdemar III of Denmark. In 1330, he reinstated Christopher as a puppet king after his ability to maintain order led to rebellions, and Christopher's death in 1332 led to Gerhard becoming the ruler of Jutland and Funen, controlling Denmark with his cousin from 1332 until his 1340 death. He married a granddaughter of Eric V of Denmark, and his sons Henry II of Holstein-Rendsburg and Nicholas of Holstein-Rendsburg would also become counts.